Pneumatic piano-player.



PATENTED AUG. ll, 1908.

H. SGHWESINGER. PNEUMATIG PIANO PLAYER.v

APPLICATION FILED MAY9, 1902.

l lll-lll A tornfrys.

WWE

scuwssiuesc, or nnrsorr, MICHIGAN.

Eetezted Aug. l, 1908.

esposas@ site o, .essai sof mette.

To oil whom 'it ,may concern: o I A Be it lino-wn that l, Hsu-ergo memoirs, citizen et the l nited States, ine-siding at De troit, .county of vWayne, Stets of Mrchigen, lieve invented certain new endusehil mprovement in Pneumatic Fiano-Pleyers, and declare the following to he a toll, cles-r, and exact description or1 vthe seine, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ertains to make end use the same, reference eing had to thefoccompendng drawings, which torni e port of this specil'icetion.

invention relates to-pneumatic pieno playersyend has or its ologect an inprovcn ment in 'that closs of pneumatic instruments in .which provision is mede forernploying e perforated sheet of peper as o valve, which allows" the passage of e current of sir 'at times, and the current ots-ir that passes through the perforations in the 'paper actuates valves which regulate the direction ot movement oi enother current ot air, end this second current ot sinis arranged to actuete motors, and either directly or indirectly actusse hammers which strike upon lcys of 'the piano to .cause themto produce musical notes. y

Qn embodying the invention, l 'employ the perforated music paper asa valve, ond l einploy ari-,sir driven motor which serves to draw the sheet of perforated paper ,over s tracker hoard, through which there holesv or pessoges' v'lhe perorations in the music sheet register et times with these. holes, and

. at such times the perforated music-sheet .lloxvs the `vfree' ymovement of through the nasse-ge in the tracker boardend allows the how therethrough of e current of air which sets the valves Jina fureteur of passages and .chsmhers, through which there is :mother movement of air, the direction of which is revulated by the vslves thus set.

employ the chamber in which the music sheet islocsted as an air trunk, endl shall refer to it hereinafter as on air trunlr, ale though it contains the music sheet and mechanism torTW'inding and rewinding the music sheet.

l. employ a pair of bellows which are actu ated Vby 'the feet of the operator or some other sdequate power; one of these 1oellows is srranged to produce a forced blast of air and the other is arranged as on exhaust bellows. The sir traverses several chamhers and passages sind oy its movement actuates a' motor 'troc er hoord g the music sheet acts as valves 'to control the movement of air 'through the'several Vopenings through the tracker yhoerd end sir passing through these openings ectuetes aprimary neurn'atic, and e valve 4that is connected t erewith and this valve controls the direction of movement of theeiu put in circuletion by the blast and eX- heisst above referred to,'snd this circulating sir iis-directed in movement through the sev-- eral chambers end passages contained in on oir trunk and sctustes e hammer motor connected with said sir trunk y ln the air trunkl rich conteins the hamnerrnotor is a movs hollow stemmed structure 'of Whichfseverel parts ect as independent valves 'engaging with the independent valve seats, sind this movable part in the verious positions .which it assumes, controls lthe direction oi' thesir movement from one chamber to another in this air trunk; the motive air which enters this trunk like that which enters the trunk which contains the tracker hoard, enters through a passage which leads from the blast bellows and leaves it throughs asseg 4-W'hichlesds to the exhaust bellows. n con necjlion with every one .of the -minor motors, `which are employed in the device, there is provision made to urge its motion in one di- .rection by air conung from the forcing bellowsa'nd Ato urge its motion in the same direction by drawing or exhausting air that would otherwise serve to obstructits free motion; the valves which have been spoken of as heine; set, `are arranged to change the direction by which the air moves through the chamber and pessages, so that when the valve is set in one position, the current of cir moving throughvthe instrument tends on the one side to push, and on the' other to draw the minor motor, and when 'the valves ere set in another position, the current of air still tends to push in one direction .and to draw in the same direction, but the direction of movement of the motor is changed. In connection with thev motor which actuates the music sheet, l have made provision for regulating the flow of air, by'placingin one of the passages through-which the air, which actuctes this' port ot the machine, travels, en automatic regulator which chokes down if the current becomes too strong, and

opens out if the current becomes too Weak.

Another feature of improvement relates to which shi' Ls o perforated music sheet over a the forward feed of the paper roll, and the means for shifting therefrom for a return feed for rewinding the paper roll. l

Other features of improvement will be de 5 scribed and claimed.

- feet is largely reduced 1n proportion to the upper part of the drawing, and in the u per part of the drawin there are shown a ove the key hammer 1%, an yactuator* with the valves with the several arts thereof in the position occupied when tlie music sheet is arranged to close the openings through the tracker board. In the lower part a similar arrangement of chambers, passage-ways, and valvesvis shown, with the several parts in the positionthey occu y when the music sheet is in position to a ow'the air to pass through the tracker board. Ina complete machine there are a large numberof devices, duplicates of the two that are shown, arranged in two tiers as indicated in the drawings.

The actuating current of air is produced by the treadles 1 and2, of which the treadle 1, produces blast current by actuating bellows 35, forcing air into chamber 4, and thence through conduit 5 to the motor vwhich actu-.

ates the piano hammer, and through conduit 6 into the air trunk 7, in which the erforated music sheet is placed. The treadle 2actuates the bellows 36 and exhausts air from the chamber 8, drawing it through conduit 9 from that part of the device which actuates the piano hammer, and through conduit 10 through a regulating device from the motor which actuates the paper roll. This motor is located at one end of the trunk 7, in which the music sheet is arranged. Blast air passes through the conduit 6 into the air trunk 7 and thence through the perforations in the sheet of paper, as the paper is actuated to bring the perforations therein over the passages through the tracker board 11, after passing the perforations in the paper p the air travels through the tracker board 11, through the conduit 12, into that part of the apparatus which contains the hammer actuating device, where the blast air arriving from the tracker board actuates a primary bellows 13, raises the movable part of it and actuatcs valves which admit the blast air to the hammer actuating mechanism. There are also opened passages for the exhaust air which travels from the hammer actuating part of the maf-bine through conduitv9. The hammer actuating device consists of a comf pound chamber comprising individual chambers 1.4, 16, and air passages 15, 17 and 13. The air from conduit 5 presses into chamber 16 and chamber 14 exhausts into conduit 9.

The air from conduit 12 presses into primary bellows 13, the lower face of which is secured to the framework or wall 19 of the chamber and the upper'part of which is held thereto by bellows connection, and under the force of the air this upper part rises, lifts the stem 20 of a valve 21, that rests over an o )ening 22, in a vertically movable valve cham er 23. The valve chamber is itself a valve adapted f to close an annular aperture 24 throu h the wall 25 above chamber 14. Through t e aperture 24the1'e is communication between chamber 14 yand passage 15., and the aperture is closed by the casing of chamber 23, which acts as a valve to close it when lifted. The primary bellows first lifts the valve 21 which engages against struts 26 that project into the chamber 23, chamber 23, and the hollow stem 27 until the passage 24 is closed. The struts 26 hold the valve v21 off from the entrance to the hollow stem 27, and there is now an .open for air through the hollow stem 27 w assagev ch allows communication between'passage 18 'and hollow.

chamber 14. The upper end ofthe stem 27, also forms a valve which closes vagainst the wall 28 on a Aseat that surrroundan opening 29, and in its lifted position the stem closes t e passage from the chamber 16, past the end of the stem 27, through the opening 29, communicating with the passage 18 and into the chamber-17. Prior to the actuation of the primary 13 by air traveling through the tracker board, there was an open passage for air from chamber 16, through passage 18 into chamber 17, and the force of this air expanded the power pneumatic 30, the movable board 31 of the power pneumatic was forced down to the extent of its downward throw and the hammer K was lifted and the parts occupied the position shown in the upper part of the drawing. Immediately after the actuation of the primary 13, the valve 21'lifts, and following this, the valve casing 23, and the stem 26 connected .with it rise and the direction of AHow through the conduit from 17 now open, is changed, so that the current now exhausts into chamber 14, and from the power pneumatic at the same time valve 34 is lifted opening passageway 32, and blast current through the pipe 5; and the chamber 16 is driven 'through passage 15 to the under side of the movable board 31, of power pneumatic 30, and lifts the movableboard co-acting with the exhaust air in this action. The lifting of the movable board lifts the link 33 and actuates the hammer K.

In the actuation of the primary 13, the blast air through the tracker board and passage 12, co-acts with the force exerted by the exhaust that is drawn through conduit 9,

it next lifts the casing of ment is changed.

seance from the chamber 14. The parts are in norv mal position when no air has been admitted or is being admitted, through passage 12, from the tracker board, the exhaust force is holding the movable board 31 of the power pneumatic down, but at this time, notwithstanding the exhaust bellows 36, isacting as an exhaust, it cannot actuate. themovable board of primary 13, because the entrance of air to the primary 13, is closed by the paper roll which now resents no opening over the tracker board; Elastan, however, is at this time co-acting with the exhaust air to hold the board 3l down and it is co-acting with the exhaust air to hold the valge 21 closed on K its seat; blast air is also pressing the valve 31 to its seat and co-acting with the exhaust air which tends to draw the saine. yvalve to its seat, but immediately on the admission of blast through the tracker board-to actuate the comparatively large inov-able part of the primary 13 against thegcounter acting pressure on the top of smaller valve 21"; the valve 21, is shifted, and immediately following this, the valvecasing 23, 'and the valve stem 27 shifts, and the entire direction lof air moveln the roll actuator, the music is stored on roll 41, and it is transferred over the tracker board l1, to a storage roll on shaft 7 5. Shaft 42 is actuatedby a crank-and pitman 43, from a motor which consists (of a three part bellows, one part o fi'which 44 is shown in section and is shown to be actuated by exhaust air through theconduit 10, 45; conduit 45, exhaustsv from chamber 46, into which the `air is admitted through slide valve 47 Aand .through passages 48 and 49 which register at times with the opening tothe chamber 445 and with the passage 50 from the motor bellows`44. The valve is shifted by a pitman 53, from crank shaft 42. The shaft 42 is providedwith a double crank, one of which engages with the pitman 43,'and through the pitman 43 is actuated from the movable card of the bellows 44, and the other-crank, of less eccentricity engages, pitrrian "53, and actuates the valve-47. The valve 47 is a straight flat plate engaging against a wall of chamber 57 and provided with openings 4S and 49 cut through it and having a stem 54 that'passes throughan opening 55 in the casing of chamber 57, and the opening is always closed bya sliding plate 56. The

plate 47, slides on Vthe wall of valve chamber 57, and there is an opening 58 through the wall intothe chamber 57 that at times registerswith the opening 49 in the plate and admits external air into the chamber 57, and thence Ainto the motor 44 to lill the motor bellows after it has been contracted by exhausting air therefrom into chamber 3.

The link 33 which connects the power pneumatic 30 with the key K, passes through an opening 71, in the casing and provision is between `the casing' and the cap, but has sufficient' side motion to allow for the swinging or swaying of the rod 33, which passes through it and is capable of reciprocation through it.

The rewinding of the paper on the roll 41', is accomplished 'by the' mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

The shaft 7G is provided with .a gear 74, that meshes with a driving inion 75, on the shaft 7 7 The shaft77, an the crank shaft 42, are coupled by a' sleeve cou ling, which coupling is eld to slide on the s aft 42, by a short spline that engages in a long key way. @n the shaft 77, is a sprocket wheel 31, and on the shaft of the roll 41 is a sprocket wheel 82. f There is a sprocket chain, indicated by dotted lines, passing over the wheels Si and 32. The wheel 81 is provided with. a clutch hub 7 8; the wheel andhub may be manually actuated by a lever 79, to slide firstA for -a short distance along the shaft 77, until the hub 73, and the coupling 80, are in clutch engagement; after which the parts including the shaft 7 7 pinion 75, and sleeveSU, may be made to slide en the shaft 42,Y until the pinion 75, is out of mesh with the wheel 7 4 so.long as lthe hub 78 is not in clutch .engagement with the coupling 30, it rides free on the shaft 77 ,but is doing no work; but as soon as the clutch is shifted, and the sleeve 30, is shifted to disengage the pinion 75 and wheel 74, the wheel cornes into action. A spring 83, tends to force 'and hold the pinion 75, in mesh with the wheel 74. The shaft42 and the shaft 77, always rotate in unison. Under normal conditions, this rotation drives the storingv roll 85; the reverse movement is enacted by shiftin the shaft 77 and the parts connected wit it, in the way described.

What l claim is:- 1. ln a pneumatic musical Vinstrument player, in combination, an air trunk divided y partitions into a hammer motor containing chamber, a primary pneumatic containing chamber, and a chamber intermediatev prielling andopening between the blast terminal' 1roY Kil.

struments, in combination and the hammer chamber, and means or ac tuating said valves, substantially as dcscribed.

ln pneumatic musical instrument player, in combination, a blast hiellows, an exhaust bellows, a wind trunk divided by partitions into chambers, one oi w ich is located at the terminaloie a passage leading to from the blast bellows, a third of which conn tains a hammer motor, and a fourth chamber located to conmiunicate with' 'the hammer motor chamber and with both of said termmol chamberaa rimary pneumatic in the hammer motor -chamber at the'other side of the motor therein and simultaneously open a through passage :from the hammer motor chamber to the exhaust terminal chamber, substantial-ly as described. 3. ln an actuator for mechanical musica instrument players, a Wind trunk divided by partitions into chambers connected by passages, one of said 'chambers containing a hammer actuating motor and having two admission openin'gsthereinto for air, a second of said chambers being located at the terminal oi a blast inlet pipe and communicating with the irst mentioned chamber through a valve controlled openin and connected with he second inlet opening to said motor chamber through a passage and a valve controlled opening thereinto, a third chamber located at the terminal of an exhaust passage and containing a primary pneumatic, valves on a single stem for all oi said openings, the said stem being hollow and having communicating passage therethrough. between the hammer motor` chamber and the primary pneumatic chamber, which through-passage is itselfcontrolled by a valve actuated by the primary pneumatic, substantially as iescribed.

4i. ln a mechanical for' musical ine y i th aprirnary pneumatic,- an air controlling' devicev connested 'therewitbfconsisthg or hollow tube having a valve tace at the tliereof, a collar surrounding the tube and having a valve face, an enlargement at the end ot said tube, a valve'seat on the inner side oi said enlargement and a valve disk seating` thereon, the said tube being provided opporsi e the valve disk with projections against which the valve disk engages whereby the through said movable piero may n and the the exhaust bellows, another oiowhichis lo cated at the termnal of a passage leading' valve disk be utilized to push against and ac-V tuate the movable piece, substantially as described.

ln, a mechanical player for musical instruments, in combination with an air trunk divided by partitions into chambers and providedl` with ablast pipe leading into one4 of saidchambers and an exhaust pipe leading f irom another of said chambers, a movable piece provided with valve faces. external thereto and hollow and provided with a valve tace internal thereto and with a disk valve seating on said internal valve face, said valve faces external to the movable piece engaging alternately with seats on the several partitions, whereby air oi constant direction into and out from saidtrunk is given alternate movements between the chambers Within the vir trunk, substantially as described.

61. ln a mechanical player iormus'ical instruments, .in combination with an air trunk divided by partitions `into chambers and provided with a blast pipe leading into one of said chambers and an exhaust pipe leading.

'from another of said chambers, a movable piece provided with valve faces external thereto and hollowand provided with a valve face internal thereto and with a, disk valve seating on said internal valve fece, said vulve faces external to the movable picco' engaging alternately with seats ontheeeveral partiM tions,'whereby air ol" constant direction imno and out from said 'trunk is given alternde movements between the chambers within the air trunk, substantially as described. V

7. ln a mechanical instrument player, in combination with transfer rolls for the music sheet, a winding' and rewinding means comprising a constantly moving actuator, a crank shaft actuated thereby, a drivin shaft in axial alinement with said crank sliaft movh able along their common axis, a sleeve com nection between said shafts, a pinion on said driving shaft, a gear on one of said transfer rolls with which said pinion may mesh, a

shaft, a clutch connection between sai sprocket wheel and said crank shalt, a chain connection between said sprocket wheel and the second ot said transfer rolls, substantially as described. 1

8. in a pneumatic piano player, in combination with a casing provided with suitable chambers and passages, a hollow valve stem, a valve located within the hollow stem and controlling a passage therethrou h, a valve carried yby said stem external t creto and adapted to close a passage through which the stem engages, a primar pneumatic engagin the valve which contro s the passage throu said stein and actuating the same to there y move the stem and actuate the valves can ried thereby, substantially as described.

9. ln a pneumatic piano player, the com bination of a easing provided with suitable change the direction of loW of the air eurcliambers and passages for the loWandre'- rents through the chambers in said easing .verse low of air currents, a plurality of valves Vvsubstantially as described.

Connected by a hollow' stem, Whiehis'itself ln testimony whereof, I, sign this specifi- 5 utilized as an air passage, a Valve controlling cation in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

the passage through the hollow stern, and a HENRY SCHWESNGER. primary pneumatic engaging the valve Which controls the passage through the steni /Vitnesses: and shifts said Valve and causes said Valve to CHARLES F. BURTON,

10 shift the positioi/iAof the stern and thereby i Y ELLroT'r J. STODDARD. Y 

